UK Seas

Discover the wonderful sea creatures that inhabit the UK seas and shores

Know the name of the creature you are looking for?

UK seas is a guide to the fauna and flora found around UK coasts.
While the majority of species are marine, some species are included
that are regularly encountered on land by the coast, so you’ll find
descriptions of non-marine species such as reptiles, amphibians,
insects and plants as well.

Gorse

Ulex europaeus

Type

Plants

Description

A resilient shrub that holds its yellow flowers for months on end, even through winter. Pretty, but very thorny, and can take over large areas if left unchecked.

Can survive fire and drought, in fact seeds germinate best in scorched soil.

Location

Heathland and dunes around most coasts, expecially favours sandy soils.